This video contains raw footage shot for "Five Day Bicycle Race," a project comprised of live in-studio commentary and taped edited coverage of the 1976 Democratic National Convention in New York City. Produced by independent videomakers calling themselves The Image Union (including many members of TVTV and Videofreex), it aired on Manhattan Cable for three hours per night for five days during the convention. In this video, the videomakers speak with engineers, technicians, and newscasters inside Madison Square Garden as they prepare for the start of the convention the following day.

00:00Copy video clip URL This tape begins with a blue screen.

00:11Copy video clip URL Fade into a shot of the street outside of Madison Square Garden the day before the first day of the DNC. The videomakers, Paul Dougherty and Andy Aaron, comment on what they’ll be doing while inside the convention hall.

01:17Copy video clip URL Cut to a shot of some NBC scaffolding that will be used for capturing footage of the DNC.

01:32Copy video clip URL Aaron and Dougherty put the camera through the security x-ray machine upon entering the garden.

01:55Copy video clip URL Once inside, the two strike up a conversation with an ABC engineer about the extensive network coverage of the DNC. He states that the coverage has never been as large for any convention. The engineer goes into detail about the technical aspects of the coverage of the DNC. After a few minutes, the engineer and his cameraman have to run.

04:24Copy video clip URL Cut to a shot of four television news commentators, one being Sam Donaldson. The videomakers try to speak with one of the commentators about the DNC atmosphere. When asked what station he is with, the commentator jokes and says that he’s a bus driver. The interview ends shortly afterward.

07:19Copy video clip URL The videomakers speak with a radio engineer about his work at the DNC. He states that the atmosphere is a bit crazy due to the preparations for the event.

08:11Copy video clip URL Cut to a shot of three people speaking with one another about the DNC. The videomakers speak with an ABC news commentator Herb Kaplow about the event. Kaplow had appeared in the TVTV documentary “Four More Years.” They ask Kaplow whether or not the networks have more credibility because of the amount of equipment they use to cover the event. Kaplow states that it does give networks a little more credibility. Kaplow also talks about the scale of coverage in comparison to other convention coverage and states that he doesn’t truly see a difference.

11:28Copy video clip URL The videomakers continue to speak with the ABC engineer about the elaborate coverage of the DNC. “Everything is much more elaborate–millions of dollars more spent here… The extensive setup back there for media, the press, and for just everybody involved, it’s just a massive setup.” The engineer goes into more detail about the extent of the coverage and the technological advancements that have been made in the last four years. He also tests out some of his equipment for the videomakers.

14:46Copy video clip URL Cut to a shot of a news reporter shooting a piece on the DNC. The videomakers then end up in the convention floor control room. They speak with a few employees about their work.

15:43Copy video clip URL The videomakers ask ABC News commentator Harry Reasoner about the level of preparation for coverage of the convention. Reasoner states that many people in broadcasting regret the amount of money that’s put into convention coverage, but that in the long run, it may be worth it. He also states that conventions are a bit of a testing ground for new equipment.

17:23Copy video clip URL The videomakers speak with a news correspondent about the convention. The man states that it is basically a Jimmy Carter convention. When asked if he believes there will be any surprises, he states that there are always surprises in politics. He goes on to talk about the new technology being used at the convention. The videomakers move on to speak with a woman involved with the New York Democratic State Committee. She talks about the general atmosphere of the convention and suspects that Carter has the nomination in the bag.

20:47Copy video clip URL The videomakers speak with a NYPD official about the level of security at the DNC. He talks about the federal funding the NYPD receives for providing security for the event. He goes on to state that security will get very tight in the coming days.

22:58Copy video clip URL The videomakers try to interview an NBC news correspondent about the press coverage at the DNC. The correspondent blows the two off. This lasts for the remainder of the tape.

23:32Copy video clip URL Tape ends.

Main Credits

produced by The Image Union; Paul Dougherty and Andy Aaron [interviewers and camera operators]

Performers

Herb Kaplow
Harry Reasoner
Sam Donaldson

Date

1976-07-11

Staff and Producer Comments

"This material gives a feeling of life in the USA--specifically, New York in 1976."--TW